Tens of thousands of Lebanese rally against Seniora government under tightened security

Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese people held a massive rally aiming to form a new national unity government to replace the current one led by Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.

The rally officially began at 3 pm local time (13:00 GMT). The protesters gathered in downtown Beirut and chanted slogans to call for stepping down of the Seniora government.

It will be followed by an open-ended sit-in against the Seniora 's government led by an anti-Syrian parliament majority.

Shiite group Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have earlier mobilized for mass street protests after the Seniora cabinet on Nov. 13 approved with absence of six pro-Syrian ministers a UN draft document for the creation of an international tribunal on the case of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's killing.

Tens of thousands of Hezbollah loyalists converged on Beirut from the North, the South and al-Bekaa by car and by bus to take part in the massive protest.

In a speech during the Friday rally, Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, said: "I call on the prime minister ( Seniora) and his ministers to quit."

However, the March 14 parties, the majority in the parliament, flew Lebanese flags everywhere and raised slogans calling for supporting premier Seniora and a decision for an international court to try the assassins of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.

The footage broadcasted on Hezbollah's al-Manar TV showed that large numbers of security forces, backed by armored personnel carriers, deployed in central Beirut to prevent any riot in imminent street demonstrations.

The heavy security came amid fears that the protests could turn into street clashes between pro-Syrian and anti-Syrian groups and Hezbollah supporters could try to storm Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's offices.

Hundreds of heavily armed police and combat troops unfurled barbed wire and erected barricades around Seniora's office. The forces also deployed at the capital's entrances.

Earlier on Thursday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called in a statement for the Friday peaceful street action. "We appeal to all Lebanese, from every region and political movement, to take part in a peaceful and civilized demonstration on Friday to rid us of an incapable government that has failed in its mission."

Last year massive street protests after the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former prime minister and critic of Damascus, led to Syria withdrawing its troops from Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua